Robin Zeigler
About Robin Zeigler
Robin Zeigler, age 52, is an independent trustee of RLJ Lodging Trust, serving since February 2022. She is CEO and Founder of MURAL Real Estate Partners, and previously held senior operating roles across retail and commercial real estate. Zeigler holds a B.S. in Accounting from Florida A&M University and an MBA from Georgia State University, and serves on audit and nominating/governance committees at RLJ .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Realty Trust | Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer | 2016–2022 | Led operations of grocery‑anchored shopping center REIT |
| Penzance | Executive Vice President & Head of Operations | 2015–2016 | Oversaw operations at commercial real estate firm |
| Federal Realty Investment Trust | Chief Operating Officer, Mid‑Atlantic Region | N/A (prior role) | Regional operating leadership at equity REIT |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Start/Current | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NETSTREIT (NYSE: NTST) | Director | Current | Public retail net lease REIT; RLJ board determined her service does not impair RLJ duties |
| Jones Lang LaSalle Income Property Trust (NASDAQ: ZIPTAX) | Director | Current | Non‑traded REIT; RLJ board determined service does not impair RLJ duties |
| ICSC | Trustee | Current | Industry association trustee and ICSC Foundation board member |
Board Governance
- Independence: RLJ board affirmatively determined Zeigler is independent under NYSE and SEC rules .
- Committees: Audit Committee member; Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee member .
- Attendance: 100% board and applicable committee meeting attendance in 2024; RLJ held 4 board meetings, Audit 4, Compensation 7, Nominating 4 .
- Election Support: Strong shareholder support in 2025 and 2024.
| Annual Meeting | Votes For | Votes Against | Abstentions | Broker Non-Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 (Apr 26, 2024) | 135,036,026 | 1,809,890 | 10,151 | 3,601,068 |
| 2025 (Apr 25, 2025) | 124,025,330 | 3,292,046 | 61,512 | 5,657,904 |
Fixed Compensation
Director cash compensation schedule and Zeigler’s actuals indicate alignment with independent director norms and committee responsibilities.
| Component | Amount (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Board Retainer (Cash) | $80,000 | Standard for non‑employee trustees |
| Audit Committee Member Fee | $10,000 | Paid to committee members |
| Nominating & Corporate Governance Member Fee | $7,500 | Paid to committee members |
| Annual Hotel Allowance | Up to $12,500 | Use at Company hotels; forfeited if unused |
| Year | Fees Earned (Cash) | Share Awards (Grant‑Date FV) | All Other Compensation | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $97,500 | $129,997 | $6,782 | $234,279 |
| 2024 | $97,500 | $127,681 | $16,380 | $241,561 |
Notes:
- 2024 “All Other Compensation” includes $3,015 dividends on unvested restricted shares and $13,365 hotel allowance usage (incl. $2,027 for 2023 stays paid in 2024) .
- Non‑employee trustees may elect to receive cash retainers in common shares .
Performance Compensation
RLJ’s director equity grants are time‑based restricted shares, vesting quarterly; no director options, PSUs, or performance metrics apply (performance metrics are for executives, not directors).
| Year | Restricted Shares Granted | Grant‑Date Fair Value | Vesting | Dividends on Unvested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 12,871 | $129,997 | Ratable over first four quarterly anniversaries | $2,138 (per trustee) |
| 2024 | 11,711 | $127,681 | Ratable over first four quarterly anniversaries | $3,015 (per trustee) |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Entity | Relationship to RLJ | Potential Interlock/Conflict Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| NETSTREIT | Unrelated retail net lease REIT | Board determined her service on two public boards does not impair RLJ service |
| JLL Income Property Trust | Non‑traded diversified real estate REIT | Same determination; not a lodging competitor |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Real estate investment, REIT operations, accounting/finance, capital markets; strong operational and board experience .
- Education: B.S. Accounting (Florida A&M), MBA (Georgia State) .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Beneficial Ownership (Shares + OP Units) | % of Shares | Unvested Restricted Shares (as of 12/31/2024) | Ownership Guidelines | Compliance Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robin Zeigler | 32,054 | * (<1%) | 5,856 | 5x base annual cash retainer | Within five‑year transition window since 2022; not yet required to be at 5x |
- Hedging/Pledging: RLJ does not allow hedging or pledging of its securities, reducing alignment risk .
- Director ownership guidelines increased to 5x base retainer in 2023; new trustees have five years to comply .
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent status; dual committee service (Audit; Nominating/Corporate Governance); 100% attendance; strong shareholder election support; anti‑hedging/pledging policy; formal related‑party transaction policy overseen by Audit Committee .
- Alignment: Regular time‑based equity grants and ownership guidelines promote skin‑in‑the‑game, with Zeigler progressing within the compliance window .
- Shareholder Signals: Say‑on‑Pay approval ~91% in 2024; 2025 advisory vote support also strong—indicative of investor confidence in RLJ’s governance and pay program .
- RED FLAGS: None disclosed specific to Zeigler. No related‑party transactions involving Zeigler; multi‑board service reviewed and deemed non‑impairing by RLJ board; attendance and independence are strong .
Related‑Party Controls: RLJ’s Audit Committee reviews all related‑party transactions per written policy; 2024 disclosures include arrangements with RLJ Companies (affiliated with Executive Chairman) but none involving Zeigler .
Committee Oversight: Audit Committee responsibilities include reviewing related‑party transactions, financial integrity, cybersecurity risk; Nominating/Corporate Governance oversees ESG, board operations, governance guidelines .
Additional Notes
- Election and Meeting Context: RLJ held 4 board meetings in 2024; all trustees had 100% attendance at board and applicable committees; Zeigler is part of independent committee membership structure .
- Director Compensation Structure Stability: The director compensation schedule (cash retainer + committee fees + $130,000 annual equity grant) remained consistent across 2023–2024; small variation in grant‑date FV tied to market price and share counts .